PTBC chapter 26

Xia Yan was at a loss for words.

Hey, let me smell your pheromones. Not only does it not make me feel worse, but it actually makes me feel better?

It sounded a bit creepy.

But after thinking for a moment, he didn’t care. After all, this was Xu Cong.

If it were any other alpha, like that idiot Jiang Chuxin beside them, they would accuse him of sexual harassment, but Xu Cong would never do that.

He had no choice; he was in so much discomfort. When he got into the car with Xu Cong earlier, he had started to suspect that his internal organs had shifted. Otherwise, how could he feel like every part of him was having a party, making him feel nauseous every second?

Now, the brief comfort brought by Xu Cong’s pheromones had faded.

The chilling pain had once again started to creep up his back.

Without hesitation, Xia Yan grabbed Xu Cong’s shirt and ordered, “Take off your suppressor patch.”

Xu Cong, receiving this command, was baffled: “Why?”

Even Jiang Chuxin, who had been pretending not to care, quickly turned his head, looking suspicious.

Xia Yan gathered his thoughts: “I know this sounds strange, but it’s incredible. I just smelled a little bit of your pheromone, and the pain in my body actually eased. So I want you to take off the suppressor patch. I’ll inhale more and see what happens.”

Xia Yan said it very calmly, though his rationality was barely hanging on. He thought, even if the sky fell, he would at least inhale Xu Cong’s pheromones first.

But the other two in the car were not as crazy.

Jiang Chuxin’s eyes nearly popped out.

What the hell, he had been joking about Xia Yan having an inappropriate relationship with the team members, but these two actually had something going on?

Unbelievable.

Xu Cong, after a brief shock, quickly regained his composure.

“Don’t be impulsive,” he said to Xia Yan, “Didn’t Dr. Li say that during your differentiation period, all pheromones could have side effects on you? Not just alpha pheromones, even omega pheromones will affect you. Although I want to help, you know how strong my pheromones are…”

He was a genuine S-rank. When it came to the strength of pheromones, one of his could rival ten of Jiang Chuxin’s. It could cause trouble if it became a problem.

But Xia Yan wasn’t listening.

His eyes were fixed on the small square suppressor patch on Xu Cong’s neck, white as if symbolizing Xu Cong’s chastity, which was very bothersome.

Meanwhile, Xu Cong continued to explain softly, saying those endless words.

Xia Yan didn’t want to hear any of it.

He had always been bold and decisive. Before Xu Cong could finish his sentence, he confidently raised his hand…

His physical condition and reflexes had always been top-tier.

Even though he was extremely weak now.

Xu Cong didn’t have time to stop him.

That small suppressor patch was swiftly removed by Xia Yan, held triumphantly between his fingers, and casually shook.

“Stop talking.”

Xia Yan raised his chin, smiling slightly, like an unyielding tyrant.

And then, the long-sealed white sandalwood pheromone found its outlet and spread through the car’s back seat with unstoppable speed.

Before Xia Yan could react, Jiang Chuxin was the first to cover his nose.

Damn… Jiang Chuxin even doubted whether this was human.

Of course, he knew pheromones didn’t mean everything in modern society. Regardless of gender, intelligence, or talent, pheromones would randomly be distributed unequally.

But pheromones could still, at certain moments, pull people back into the primal arena.

Putting aside all the fancy appearances, what remained was the beast’s instinct, the massive carnivores revealing their fangs in modern society still caused a chill.

Even if that beast wore the thinnest, coldest layer of white sandalwood fragrance.

But Xia Yan felt completely the opposite.

This white sandalwood pheromone came on strong, but once it surrounded him, it felt as gentle as flowing water.

A faint woody scent, serene and deep, like a nocturne melody.

Though it wasn’t as dramatic as a miraculous cure, it did feel like a warm bath wrapping around him, soothing the pain and restlessness in his body.

The tight frown Xia Yan had been wearing finally relaxed a little.

He could feel his own pheromones—those thorny roses—recklessly reaching out, like the weapon of an evil witch in a fairy tale, ready to drag an innocent prince into her lair.

For a moment, it was hard to tell who the prey was and who the hunter was between him and Xu Cong.

Xu Cong closely observed Xia Yan’s expression.

He really didn’t know what to do with him. He had only let his guard down for a moment, and Xia Yan had already taken off the suppressant patch.

Xu Cong couldn’t help but furrow his brows and asked, “How do you feel?”

He didn’t even dare touch Xia Yan, afraid it would worsen his condition.

Xia Yan’s response, with two alphas in the car, was to boldly lift his T-shirt and show Xu Cong.

“Look, the swelling on my waist has gone down a bit,” Xia Yan said triumphantly, almost overjoyed, and leaned closer to Xu Cong.

Xu Cong quickly yanked Xia Yan’s shirt down and shot a hostile look at the opposite side, catching Jiang Chuxin quickly averting his gaze.

“Turn your face away,” Xu Cong said coldly, “Don’t force me to throw you out of the car.”

Jiang Chuxin: “Why…”

But when he met Xu Cong’s gaze and saw how oblivious Xia Yan looked, he inexplicably felt guilty and said nothing, turning his attention back to the window.

Once Jiang Chuxin had turned away, Xu Cong sighed, his voice softening as he coaxed Xia Yan, “I see it, it’s definitely less swollen. What about the rest of your body? Does it still hurt?”

Xia Yan nodded.

He touched the spot on his neck where his glands were. “It still hurts. It can’t be healed that quickly, especially the area around my glands. I feel like I could just rip them out because of the pain.”

He became a little agitated as he spoke.

Had he known that differentiation would be this troublesome, he would have rather been a beta. Now, it seemed like being a beta was the most convenient. No heat period, and not affected by pheromones. No wonder they were the backbone of society.

“But I do feel a bit better now,” Xia Yan continued, unconsciously leaning closer to Xu Cong. “It’s really strange… I should be repelled by all alpha pheromones, but why does your pheromone make me feel so… comfortable?”

The last few words were spoken very softly.

Because he himself felt a little embarrassed.

But then he looked at Xu Cong with a blank expression, looking very sincere.

“Why do you think that is?” he asked, eagerly seeking an answer from Xu Cong. “Could it be that we’ve been together for too long? We often slept in the same bed when we were trainees, and now it’s been four or five years. Could it be that I’ve gotten used to your pheromones, like I’ve been marinated in them?”

His words sounded so ridiculous that Xu Cong almost laughed.

But his lips only curled slightly, and then something seemed to cross his mind. His expression became complicated, and his smile faded.

He recalled what Dr. Li had said.

“If the pheromone extract of an alpha with a high compatibility is used, it can soothe…”

Xu Cong’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

He lowered his eyes and half-embraced Xia Yan, letting the scent of sandalwood permeate every part of Xia Yan’s body like a towering tree.

“I don’t know, maybe that’s the reason,” he whispered.

At first, Xia Yan felt a little uncomfortable being held by Xu Cong. He wasn’t used to being in such a vulnerable position, but when the pain overwhelmed him, he couldn’t care anymore.

He leaned against Xu Cong, inhaling his scent. For some reason, his cheeks felt a little hot.

This is so strange…

He muttered to himself in his mind, but still couldn’t help but hold Xu Cong’s hand, as if being closer to him was the right thing to do.

Jiang Chuxin noticed the two people’s movements through the reflection in the glass.

The position was undoubtedly ambiguous.

Seeing this, he furrowed his brows, an inexplicable anger rising in him, but he didn’t know who to direct it at.

And when he watched through the reflection, Xu Cong was also staring at him, his eyes as cold as a wolf’s, warning him not to cross into the edge of the forest.